Churchill Downs Stakes Advances: Saturday's $300,000 River City (GIII) and $300,000 Dream Supreme

Nov 03, 2024

Accomplished turf veteran Cash Equity (FR) is set to make his return to Churchill Downs on Saturday where he leads a competitive field of 10 horses entered in the 45th running of the $300,000 River City (Grade III).

The 1 1/8-mile turf race, scheduled as Race 10 at 5:25 p.m. (all times Eastern), is part of a stakes doubleheader alongside the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed) which will go as Race 8 at 4:25 p.m. First post for Saturday’s 11-race card is set for 1 p.m.

Cash Equity, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and owned by Ken Ramsey, enters the River City with a proven record of consistency across his 31-race career, sporting a solid record of 6-7-6 with purse earnings of $641,288. Cash Equity’s recent performances include a third-place finish in the Mint Millions (GIII) at Kentucky Downs and a runner-up effort in the Barbados Gold Cup. In his last start, the son of Toronado (IRE) finished seventh in the Turf Mile (GI) at Keeneland, only defeated 4 ¾ lengths to Breeders’ Cup competitor Carl Spackler. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will make the journey from Southern California to Kentucky and pilot the 6-year-old gelding from post No. 10.

Among Cash Equity’s main rivals in the River City include Gigante, winner of the 2023 Secretariat Stakes (GII) at Colonial Downs; recent allowance winners Battle of Normandy and Wonderful Justice (GB); 2022 John Henry Turf Cup (GII) winner Masteroffoxhounds; and Knickerbocker (GIII) third-place finisher Reckoning Force.

Here is the complete field for the River City Stakes in order of post positions (with jockey and trainer):

Emmanuel (Luis Saez, Mike Maker)
Hades (Paco Lopez, Joe Orseno)
Harlan Estate (Declan Cannon, Whit Beckman)
Reckoning Force (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh)
Masteroffoxhounds (Florent Geroux, Phil D’Amato)
Public Sector (GB) (Jaime Torres, Joseph)
Wonderful Justice (GB) (Brian Hernandez Jr., Joe Sharp)
Battle of Normandy (Luan Machado, Shug McGaughey III)
Gigante (Edgar Morales, Steve Asmussen)
Cash Equity (Smith, Joesph)
Fans can watch and wager on all the day’s racing action from Churchill Downs on TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

 

MULTIPLE GRADED STAKES WINNER SPIRIT WIND TOPS DREAM SUPREME – Miller Racing’s multiple graded stakes winner Spirit Wind returns to action Saturday at Churchill Downs as the headliner in the 19th running of the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed), part of a stakes doubleheader on the 11-race card.

Run at six furlongs, the Dream Supreme Stakes shares the Saturday spotlight with the $300,000 River City (Grade III). The Dream Supreme will go as Race 8 at 4:25 p.m. with the River City going two races later at 5:25 p.m. First post is 1 p.m.

Spirit Wind has been a model of consistency in her 14-race career, finishing off the board only three times. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Spirit Wind’s resumé includes wins in the Honorable Miss (GII) at Saratoga and the Sugar Swirl (GIII) at Gulfstream Park. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will be is slated to be in town to ride Spirit Wind and will break from post No. 3.

Among the fillies and mares lining up against Spirit Wind include Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Sprint Preview winner Awesome Treat and recent Keeneland allowance winner Mystic Pleasure.

Here is the field for the Dream Supreme in order of post position (with jockey and trainer):

Girls Weekend (Luis Saez, Whit Beckman)
Upper Case (Evin Roman, Paulo Lobo)
Spirit Wind (Smith, Joseph)
Lure’em In (Irving Moncada, Anna Meah)
Mystic Pleasure (Florent Geroux, Rodolphe Brisset)
Accomplished Girl (Cristian Torres, Steve Asmussen)
Awesome Treat (Gerardo Corrales, Justin Wojczynski)
Into Love (Luan Machado, Dermot Littlefield)
Miss Arlington (Francisco Arrieta, Brian Williamson)
Fans can watch and wager on all of Saturday’s racing action at Churchill Downs through TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

 

DOWN THE STRETCH – Sunday’s nine-race program got underway at 1 p.m. The Derby City 6 Jackpot started over after one lone ticket hit the wager on Saturday. … Following dark days on Monday and Tuesday, live racing will resume beneath the Twin Spires Wednesday-Sunday with daily first posts of 1 p.m. Wednesday is Senior Day and guests 60 and older can enjoy lunch on Millionaires Row for $45. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.